How To Clean Ceramic Tile After Grouting

Different Ceramic & Porcelain Tile Sealers

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What Is Ceramic and Porcelain Tile Sealer?

A sealer is a liquid coat applied to the porous surface of the tile or grout. It protects tiles from oxidation, natural deterioration and day-to-day wear. Typically speaking, sealers protect unglazed tiles and grouts from absorbing stains. Take a look at the following guidelines to help you choose the right sealant for your ceramic or porcelain tile project.

2 Types of Tile Sealers

The two main types of tile sealers are penetrating sealers and surface sealers.

Penetrating Sealants

These absorb into the tile or grout, forming a stain resistant shield just below the surface. Most penetrating sealers will not change the appearance of the tile.

Surface Sealants

These are a coating on the top of tile and grout, forming a non-porous, stain resistant seal. The surface sealer will enhance the rich natural colors of the tile, like in a wood-grain ceramic tile, and add a slight luster as well.

Important Considerations Before Using Tile Sealers

You do not need to seal the surfaces of most ceramic and porcelain. Some do require a light application of a penetrating sealer to fill the micro pores on the surface of the tile.
Seal all unglazed tiles, including dense porcelains, prior to grouting. This protects the tile from grout stains, especially when using a dark colored grout and a light colored tile.
Impregnating sealers go into the grout joint and protect against water and oil-based stains.
You must use penetrating or surface tile sealer on highly absorbent tiles, such as hand-made Saltillo tiles.
Use only penetrating sealers on dense, unglazed tiles such as quarries or porcelains.
It is important to follow manufacturer recommendations and read the instructions on any product you choose to use.

The information above is a set of guidelines. For further details, it's a good idea to ask a BuildDirect product expert or a professional installer about which type of sealer performs best for the tile you've chosen. While considering color change and stain resistance, it is also important to consider whether a penetrating sealer or surface sealer will work best for your project.